Several months ago, disgruntled Star Wars fans expressed dismay at the hi-jinks of the geeky computer-generated character JarJar Binks by creating Web sites and newsletters proclaiming that "JarJar Binks Must Die." Although this phenomenon generated bemused media attention, security experts caution that it is merely the tip of a troubling iceberg. They warn that the Nation is in the throes of an under-publicized epidemic of violent attacks directed at animated characters.

While JarJar's Rushdie-like predicament, and the millions of dollars that Lucasfilm, Ltd. was forced to spend on additional security measures, have monopolized the headlines, the media has neglected to report the attacks on dozens of other cyber-celebrities. A few of the most serious recent incidents:

• Last month, the Little Mermaid suffered an unprovoked and vicious shark attack. The crime remains unsolved. Authorities have questioned the star of "The Deep Blue Sea" in connection with the incident, but the great white star apparently provided an alibi for the evening of the attack. Nevertheless, investigators have requested a cartilage sample for possible DNA testing.
  
  
• Three weeks ago, during the filming of "Tarzan II," one of Tarzan's vines snapped, causing the buff and athletic ape-man to plummet 200 virtual feet to the jungle floor. Disaster was averted when Tarzan landed in a net that was computer- generated on the spot by a quick-typing keyboard operator.
  
  
• During the filming of the sequel to a "Bug's Life," dozens of cast members had to be hospitalized when traces of Raid were discovered in the nuts and berries supplied by the catering crew.
  
  
• Weeks of pain-staking computer animation work on the new animated version of the Kafka classic "The Metamorphosis" were destroyed when a powerful magnet was placed atop the Gregor Samsa disk. The perpetrator remains at large.
  
  
• Early this week, one of Aladdin's summer palaces was destroyed when a truck loaded with several tons of explosives detonated outside the main gate. Fortunately, the honey-throated star was away on a personal appearance at the time of the attack. Members of an animated terrorist cel known as the Luni Toons are thought to be responsible.

Meanwhile, in the Los Angeles suburb of Pixeltown, most animated characters "live" under virtual screen arrest, terrified of exposing themselves or their families to possible demagnetization or other assault. While many ordinary citizens have chuckled at the "JarJar Binks Must Die" slogan, law enforcement experts warn that such threats are not laughing matters. Rather, they are symptoms of an powerful climate of rage and violence directed at many of our most popular two-dimensional heroes.